Riquewihr
A medieval walled village surrounded by vineyards, with well-preserved half-timbered houses along its main street. It's known as the “Pearl of the Vineyards.”
Riquewihr lies about 13 km northwest of Colmar. It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association. Its 16th-century walls, gates, and half-timbered houses have survived almost completely intact, even through WWII. Enter through the Lower Gate by the town hall and follow the main street, Rue du Général de Gaulle, as it gently climbs past wine estates, bakeries, and souvenir shops to the Dolder tower, built in 1291. Inside is a small museum, and you can climb it for views over the rooftops. Nearby, the “Thieves' Tower” once served as a prison. Around the village are Grand Cru vineyards such as Schoenenbourg and Sporen, and many wineries offer free or low-cost tastings. Riesling is the most famous wine here. The town also has a Christmas shop that stays open all year. A walk around the whole village takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and strolling the vineyard paths outside the walls offers even better views. Holidays and December weekends draw huge crowds, so arrive early. Getting there: a regional bus from Colmar takes about 30 minutes, but runs infrequently, so check the timetable. Driving takes about 20 minutes, and there are paid car parks outside the village. It is often combined with Eguisheim and Kaysersberg on a one-day wine-country tour.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Ribeauvillé
- Kaysersberg
- Turckheim
- Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg
- Colmar Old Town & Unterlinden Museum
- Maison des Têtes, Colmar
- St. Martin's Church, Colmar
- Musée Bartholdi